[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 101 (Friday, July 22, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S8752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Kennedy):
  S. 1473. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide 
a business credit against income for the purchase of fishing safety 
equipment; to the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce The Commercial 
Fishermen Safety Act of 2005, a bill to help fishermen purchase the 
life-saving safety equipment they need to survive when disaster 
strikes. I am pleased to be joined by my good friend from 
Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy, in introducing this legislation. 
Senator Kennedy has been a leader in the effort to sustain our 
fisheries and to maintain the proud fishing tradition that exists in 
his State and mine.
  Recent portrayals of the commercial fishing industry in film and in 
literature have provided the American public with glimpses of the 
challenges and dangers associated with earning a living from the sea. 
These stories and movies merely scratch the surface of what it is like 
to be a modern-day fisherman. Everyday, members of our fishing 
communities struggle to cope with the pressures of running a small 
business, complying with burdensome regulations, and maintaining their 
vessels and equipment. Added to these challenges are the dangers 
associated with fishing, where disaster can strike, often without 
notice.
  Year-in and year-out, commercial fishing ranks among the Nation's 
most dangerous occupations, often as the most dangerous occupation. 
Between the years of 1992, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics began 
compiling occupational safety statistics, and 2003, 756 commercial 
fishing-related fatalities have been documented. This profession is 
roughly 30 times more dangerous than the average occupation.
  Too often, commercial fishing has proved tragic throughout our 
coastal waters including the north Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, and the 
north Atlantic. The New England fishing community is no stranger to 
heartbreak. The 2004-2005 winter proved no exception, with the December 
20, 2004 sinking of the Northern Edge. Five fishermen were lost during 
this incident, which was the worst loss of life in the New England 
fishing community since 1991. One fisherman, Pedro Furtado, was saved 
when the Northern Edge went down. Pedro was able to locate a life raft, 
to which he clung for half an hour in high winds and freezing 
temperatures before being rescued by the crew of a nearby scallop boat. 
This incident could have been even more tragic, if vital lifesaving 
safety equipment were not at hand.
  Not all disasters at sea end with a loss of life. Fishermen also tell 
stories of dramatic rescues, stories that all have something in common: 
safety equipment. On February 9, 2005, a 38-foot gillnet vessel, 
Hollywood, sank 45 miles off of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Aboard this 
boat were three fishermen, all of who survived. These men survived 
despite 40 degree water temperatures. Two of the three crew members 
were wearing survival suits, and they all were able to get into a life 
raft before the boat sank.

  Tragedy has again visited the New England fishing community. This 
month alone, two New England vessels have sank, during a time of year 
that is generally not as hazardous for the industry. On the evening of 
July 13, the Sirius sank 25 miles south of Matinicus Island, Maine. 
Sadly, the captain of the Sirius was lost. Fortunately, the two 
remaining crew members were rescued by fellow fishermen. Just four, 
short days later, another fishing vessel, Princess, sank off of 
Chatham, Massachusetts. Fortunately, the entire crew of this vessel was 
rescued, due in no small part to their safety equipment.
  Coast Guard regulations require all fishing vessels to carry safety 
equipment. The requirements vary depending on factors such as the size 
of the vessel, the temperature of the water, and the distance the 
vessel travels from shore to fish.
  Required equipment can include a life raft that automatically 
inflates and floats free, should the vessel sink; personal flotation 
devices or immersion suits which help protect fishermen from exposure 
and increase buoyancy: EPIRBs, which relay a downed vessel's position 
to Coast Guard Search and Rescue Personnel; visual distress signals; 
and fire extinguishers.
  When an emergency arises, safety equipment is priceless. At all other 
times, the cost of purchasing or maintaining this equipment must 
compete with other expenses such as loan payments, fuel, wages, 
maintenance, and insurance. Meeting all of these obligations is made 
more difficult by a regulatory framework that uses measures such as 
trip limits, days at sea, and gear alterations to manage our marine 
resources.
  The Commercial Fishermen Safety Act of 2005 lends a hand to fishermen 
attempting to prepare in case disaster strikes. My bill provides a tax 
credit equal to 75 percent of the amount paid by fishermen to purchase 
or maintain required safety equipment. The tax credit is capped at 
$1500. Items such as EPIRBs and immersion suits cost hundreds of 
dollars, while life rafts can reach into the thousands. The tax credit 
will make life-saving equipment more affordable for more fishermen, who 
currently face limited options under the federal tax code.
  Safety equipment saves lives in an occupation that has suffered far 
too many tragedies. By extending a tax credit for the purchase of 
federally required safety equipment, Congress can help ensure that 
fishermen have a better chance of returning home each and every time 
they head out to sea.

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